The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1887-12-30
The Old and the New Year.

The Old and the New Year.
The imaginations of most of us are wont
to be strongly affected by our artificial divi-
sion OF time. We have come to look upon it
as something tangible, solid. The erd of one
year and the beginning of another is to US the
closing up of one set of books and the open
ing of another. December is the last page of
our ledger; with January We open new &C.
count.
The arbitrary divisions of the year impress
US in like manner, although not in like de.
gree. As each year has character, a sort of
individuality in the mind, so in giving to
each month a name and a certain duration,
we have made 1t an entity and cannot escape
from the thralldom of this arbitrary, ever-re-
curing, succession. As the old year blends
into the new, every mortal stops and gives
his enemy-Time-a little respectful con-
sideration His power is acknowledged
the speed at which he travels is commented
upon, ifnot with approval, with establishment.
Perhaps We would like time to flow on peace
fully, unbroken, like river, without dams,
without these constant checks to our seren-
ity, to our needless expenditure of all our cap
ital-physical, mental AMI moral. Is it be-
cause we are dishonest that being thus call
ed to an account worries us? 1t behooyes
US to look into this and ere the old wear
closes to question it and ascertain how we
stand. These yearly accounts we render to
ourselves of ourselves, are only foreshadoy.
ings OF the final reckoning at the great day
when the Books" shall be opened
The parting with the old year suggests
other thoughts Who is there that has not
been in the habit, about this time every wear,
OF opening certain drawer or other recepta-
Gle containing things sacredly preserved, and
making an inspection of its contents, Tr-
lies In themselves, perhaps these things NAV
De- out precious as mementees of the dead
and OF the living; relics of ourselves, in those
by-gone days now grown so dim. Each or q
has, doubtless, a little treasure house of this
kind, and knows how, year after year, the
storeis added TO and yet grows no bigger in
bulk, for year after year we take some things
out and commit them to the fierce vet gen.
Tie iorgetiulness of the flames Things there
are that we never remove, about which a
tenderer, deeper interest grows with the
years, things which we have said to ourselves
we would wish them to 90 with us to life's
END and even to our own final resting-place
when the last turnpike gate on the journey of
life has been passed.
80 each ofus, as we travel onward with
the clrcling years, if we are wise, have times
ofintrospection, of looking into our ow n heart
and taking account of what is there. We
shall find much that in the past we have chung
10 tenaciously opinions for which we have
commended, theories for which we have bat
ted Hereby, which in the light of rpened ex-
perience, chastened affections and DISCIPLINED
will, we now feel can, nay, must be cast aside
as worthless But let us hope we shall also
ma there principles that become every wear |
more fixed, and which we may never relin-
quish; hopes and aims that we NAV even
carry with us into the unseen and eternal
world.
But let US not, in dwelling upon the serious
reflections that belong to the passing awoy
of the Old Year, forget the gadness that
comes with the New Year. 1t is both more
noble and more profitable to take n cheerful
and reassuring view of our condition and that
OF humanity in general-laying aside futile |
regrets and resolving for the future to do our
utmost in fulfilling our duty 10 God and to |
our fellow Yes, New Years Day is
emphatically day upon whichto form good
resolutions. When we say to one another,
u wish you Happy New Year." let us ask
ourselves, "How much do we wish il ?" If
our wish is sincere we will endeayor, as far
as in us lies, to make it so; and each of US
has it in his power, to certain extent, make
or mar the happiness of those around him.
Death of Ex-Secretary Manning
Hon. Daniel Manning, late Secretary of the
United States Treasury, died at his home in |
Albany, New York, on Saturday. His death
is a national loss, and it may be said of him
that he gave his life for his country. His
appointment by President Cleveland as chief
oil the financial operations fthe government
was regarded by the monetary world with |
great concern, but it was soon seen that |
President Cleveland's estimate This abilities
were correct. Mr.. Mannings able and Judi
cious administration of the Treasury depart
ment disspated the fears of financiers. and |
his reports and suggestions were all marked |
with wisdom, thoroughness and sound COM |
mon sense, that gained for him the confidence |
of the country.
MIR. Manning was the true type of an
American citizen and illustrated in his career |
the possibilities that are before every boy in
the land. He was poor, friendless, unedu-
Gated lad. First securing the humblest posi-
ton in the printing office of the Albany
Ahds, he became compositor, then re.
porter On the paper, whsch was combined with
the Argus, then chief owner ofthe newspaper.
a bank President and finally Secretary of the
Treasury, position second In Importance
only to that of President of the Uuited States.
1t Is told of him that in every position he
held he was faithful, attentive and indus.
trious, lie carried these lifelong habits
into the Treasury department and worked
harder than any Secretary before him had
ever worked. So intensely did he apply him
sell that his health broke down and he was
obliged to relinouish his place His death is
mourned by the whole country, for il is, in
deed, a national calamity